Soap-bubble device



M G. DOBBINS.

SOAP BUBBL'E DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV= 13, 1920.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

s m M. D M m M ATTORNEY WITNESS:

PATENT FFECE.

MICHAEL G. DOBBINS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' SOAP-BUBBLE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1%21.

Application filed November 13, 1920. Serial No. 423,896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL G. DOBBINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have inventedvnew and useful Improvements in Soap-BubbleDevices, of which the followin" is a specification.

his invention relates to toys and more particularly to devices forblowing soapbubbles of the type comprising a fluid-containing receptaclehaving an outlet constituting a mouth on to which is wiped a film of thebubble producing substance, and a mouthpiece through which the breath orair is forced to cause the film to be expelled through the mouth andthereby form the bubble proper.

The main object of my present invention is to provide a novelconstruction of device of the nature above referred to having improvedmeans for creating or form ing the film.

Another object is to provide a soap bubble device which is simple tomanufacture, effective in use and of attractive appear' ance.

With the foregoing primary objects in view my invention consistsessentially in the novel features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and more specificallydefined by the appended claims.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to theaccompanying sheet of explanatory drawings constituting a part of thisspecification in which like characters of reference designate the sameor corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved soap bubble device showingthe same as held ready for and as in use.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the device with the stem removed,and drawn to an enlarged scale for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the dasher or film forming elementhereinafter more specifically referred to; and,

Fig. 4 is a plan of the same.

Referring more particularlv to the views I form a casing or body portion10 of this sheet metal which is provided near the upper part with acircumscribing bead 11, and at the lower part of said body portion thereis spun or otherwise formed a funnel section 12 terminating in anaxially depending concentric annular flange or ring 13. Brazed orotherwise secured into the flange or ring portion 13 is a hollowtruncated insert 14 which forms an inwardly flared mouth and it will bereadily seen on an examination of Fig. 2 that this insert 14 and thefunnel section 12 constitute a receptacle or container forthesoap-bubblc solution 15. A removable cover 16 is provided for thebody portion 10 and it is preferably fashioned with a domed crown 17centrally of which is a funnel 18 for the purpose hereafter explained,and said cover is fitted with a ferrule 19 for a hollow stem or blowpipe20 through which air is blown for the purpose of forming a soap-bubble21.

The film producing element or device proper is preferably of the formshown more fully by Figs. 3 and 4, and consists of a length of wirewhich is coiled at one end to constitute a cylindrical dipper or dasherportion 22, the free end of said wire then being vertically turned at 23and bent to form an inwardly projecting arm 24 from whence it is bent toprovide a member 25 in axial alinement with the axis of the cylindricalportion 22 and terminating in a finger ring or eye 26. As will bereadily understood the ring or eye portion 26 is not formed till afterthe member 25 is passed outward. through the funnel 18 in the cover 16.In some instances I may at;

tach a piece of thin rubber or other suitable shroudnot shown-about theexterior surface of the dipper or dasher portion 22 to aid in producingthe film prior to the blowing of a bubble but in actual practice I havefound that the coiled condition of the dipper gives very excellentresults.

In use and assuming that the body portion or container 10 has beensupplied with soap-solution 15 and that the device is held as shown inthe hand 27 with the forefinger 28 projected into the ring or eye 26,the operator simply raises said forefinger 28 which causes the dipper ordasher 22 to elevate some of the solution 15 and on lowering theforefinger and blowing through the stem 20 a film of said solution willbe deposited over the inner upper end of the mouth 14, whereupon furtherblowing through the stem 20 will result in a pressure of air beingcreated in the body 10,- which air being forced outwardly through themouth 14 will expand the soapy film into the bubble 21. A jerk or slightshaking of the device will result in the release of the bubble 21therefrom and then upon again raising and lowering the forefinger 28 asabove set forth a fresh film of soap solution will be deposited over themouth 14 ready to bring about the formation of a new bubble by repeatingthe operation above described.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen and understoodthat by my invention I provide a device for blowing bubbles which is ofexceedin ly simple construction and effective in use the funnel shapedpart 18 of the domed cover 16 serv-, ing to prevent the solution 15being carried upwardly outside thereof whereby cleanliness is insuredand wastage eliminated. Furthermore it will be obvious that the entiredevice being self contained in that the body 10 forms a reservoir forthe soap or other appropriate alkaline solution in fair quantity, andthat much pleasureable amusement can be obtained in that bubbles can beeasily formed by those unskilled in the art of blowing bubbles. Stillfurther I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the preciseshape and form of the various parts but consider myself at liberty tomake such detail changes as may reasonably be construed as fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. The combination, with a bubble-blowing devicecomprising a fluid-container having a conical outlet forming a mouth, ofa vertically movable dasher including an open ended cylindrical portionand an axially longitudinal operating member, said dasher when raisedand lowered being adapted to deposit a film of the fluid over the mouthof the conical outlet.

2. The combination, with a bubble-blowing device comprising afluid-container having a conical outlet forming a mouth, of a verticallymovable dasher formed from a length of wire coiled at one end toconstitute an open ended cylinder the free end of said wire beinginwardly turned and bent into axial alinement with; the cylindricalportion and terminating in an eye piece, and said dasher being adaptedwhen raisedrand lowered to deposit a film of the fluid over the mouth oftheconical outlet.

In testimony whereof I afiiX m signature.

MICHAEL G. D BBINS.

